Hey guys/girls new user here (as the UN suggests) as well as a new snow boarder. Came across this site while looking for some reviews. This is going to be my first season on a board and I'm looking to grab some equipment. I come from quite a few years of wake-boarding experience and now i want something to do in the winter. Ive been doing some looking around and price comparing with trying to understand what differentiates the 99 dollar bindings to the 300+ ones, beside build quality.
So I came here in hope that the forum could help me! From what I've learned so far, there are 3 styles of board types, park, mountain and freestyle im just looking for a mediocre board that can do all three to some degree. Also been looking at bindings and besides the name, i dont have much clue as to the difference of what makes one superior of the other. So this is what I have picked2012 Burton Freestyle Bindings lower endTechNine Split T Black 2012 higher end2012 Nitro Raiden Wizard Bindings and those just match the blue/white/black color scheme I have going on.. as for boots..32 Summit Black 2012 higher end2011 Northwave Force Black Boots lower end
Know Im sure most of you will have mixed opinions and experiences about those, but is it really more worth it to buy the "better" more expensive stuff? Im sure as hell not gonna ask the associates that question..

Also looking for a board, but they are suppper pricey know that season opener is around and all the 2012 gear is out.. I heard the golden spot for board length for the avg. rider is from chin to nose, making me 158cm to 162cm..

Hey, Matt. Couple of things. First, the board length rule of thumb assumes you are of average weight for your height. If you're heavier, lengthen the board a bit. Weight is actually far more important than height. Most boards have a size chart. If they specify weight and height on the chart, give priority to weight.

Third, if your budget is such that you have to make compromises, then spend the most money on the boots. Bad-fitting boots will ruin the experience faster than anything. And heel-lift will just kill your turns.

Last, ask yourself two questions: 1) How certain are you that you'll stick with snowboarding, and 2) what kind of riding will you do?

If you're just giving it a try and you may or may not stick with it, just buy a used board and bindings, until you're sure you want to stick with it. If you're not sure about #2, same answer. Once you decide what you want, definitely spend the bucks to get good equipment. It does make a difference once you're past noob stage.

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Thanks for that. Well im pretty much 6' and 160~ lbs.. Ive always liked 2 sports in life, snowboarding and mountain biking. I cant do the mountain biking so ill do the snowboarding! And Ive done it a few times in the past and its great fun. As for ride type, blue mountain and glen eden are thee closest slopes to me, and I don't see me going to Whistler anytime soon If I get good fast, maybe Tramblen out in Montreal.. So for a riding type I would go with freestyle with some park action as a mountain i wont see for a while...

So the boots are the best investment eh..? Guess ill have to do some more thinking on the pair. Any recommendations?

What are things to consider or look at when buying boots? Obviously in person would be the best so i can wear them and feel the support/rigidity/flexibility of them and the comfort level.

Nike Kaiju's. My friend bought a pair yesterday and yes they have a hefty price tag ($350) but I stepped into them and fell in love. But if I were you, and not sure if you are going to stick with snowboarding for sure, or your budget doesn't quite fit that, go for a pair of Burton boots. It's what I ride in, and only around $200 for a pair of good quality boots. It'll also help a ton, if you want new gear, to try to buy 2011 models on everything you can. You can still find great discounts, and for the most part they're the same as 2012 models, you just have to compare the tech specs, then research the differences and base your decision off that.

Yea I'm looking and trying to find 2011 stuff, but a lot of is already cleared out, and as a first time buyer i don't want to buy online..

I suppose I didn't take that into consideration. If you're dead set on sticking with snowboarding you might as well, just buy 2012 stuff, if you think you may not want to continue into next season you could be out of a lot of money. This hobby happens to be quite an expensive one to get started.

your height/weight, i wouldnt go over a 157/158 and primarily look in the 152-155 range...if you are at all decent at wakeboarding, you will excell fast on the snow...i wakeboarded for 6 years and was hitting kickers, rails, and just slaying the mountain my first trip out, so id say go ahead and get yourself some good gear off the rip...if i were you i would be looking at any rocker/reverse camber board since its shaped the same as a wakeboard

your height/weight, i wouldnt go over a 157/158 and primarily look in the 152-155 range...if you are at all decent at wakeboarding, you will excell fast on the snow...i wakeboarded for 6 years and was hitting kickers, rails, and just slaying the mountain my first trip out, so id say go ahead and get yourself some good gear off the rip...if i were you i would be looking at any rocker/reverse camber board since its shaped the same as a wakeboard

interesting, ill check out some smaller boards. I really excelled this summer, gapping the wake of my fishing boat, on water 180s and in air 180s..